With the season beginning a month ago, the Woodland wrestling team is working hard to reach their season goal of earning another state championship this year.

Currently in his fifth season with Woodland, head coach Adrian Tramutola, led the team to a State Dual Championship in 2011, four Area Dual Championships since 2008 and two Area Championships in 2008 and 2012.

“Our wrestling team is in pursuit of its third appearance in the state finals. We are going after our four consecutive region duals title,” said Tramutola.

On Nov. 17, the Wildcats competed in the Black Beard Duals at Allatoona where they finished third. Shortly after, Nov. 21, Woodland traveled to Parkview for the Parkview Duals where they also placed third.

“We have a great group of kids. We’re extremely young but very talented,” said Tramutola.

There are currently 40 wrestlers on the roster, three seniors, four juniors, and the other 33 wrestlers being underclassmen. These athletes cover 14 different weight classes.

This season, Tramutola said he has four top wrestlers, one from each grade level — Zach Frye, Isaiah Ross, Jake Huffine and Logan Sims.

Frye is a senior, weighing in at 152 pounds, standing at 6-foot-1. Ross is a 195 pound junior, standing at an even 6-foot. Huffine is a sophomore, standing 5-foot-4, weighing 113 pounds. Sims, the youngest of the four, is a freshman, also 5-foot-4, weighing 106 pounds.

Each of these wrestlers had a 14-1 win record as they went into the Cleveland Duals on Dec. 8 at Cleveland High School in Tennessee.

This year’s Cleveland Duals included 16 teams, 9 of which have won state championships — Woodland being one of the nine. Schools such as Baylor, Heritage and Pope were among the state champions. Thompson from Alabama and Christian Brothers from Tennessee were also state champs in their respective states.

Pope and Christian Brothers were the final teams standing, but Pope took home the win.

The next competition for the Woodland wrestlers will be the fifth annual Eric Hill Memorial Tournament. This event will be at Loganville High School Friday and Saturday.

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